Apparatus for removing icicles from the eaves of buildings



May l0, 1949.

I INVENToR Y BENJAMIN E LlsTQN Ml? m Patented May 10, 1949 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING ICICLES FROM THE EAVES OF BUILDINGS Benjamin F. Liston, Garrettsville, Ohio Application April 21, 1947,- Serial No. 742,980

This invention relates t apparatus for eliminating the hazard of falling icicles Eby dislodging them mechanically, particularly from locations above doors or the like through which people or vehicles pass.

Under certain weather conditions, i. e., rainfall 'with freezing temperature, icicles of substantial size and weight are formed on the eaves or other overhanging projections of buildings. So long as the temperature is below freezing the icicles are not likely to become detached unless the wind is high but on the commencement of a thaw, they are apt to fall at any time and may thus constitute a serious danger to those walking or working below. In fact, fatal acci-dents have occurred as a result of this hazard.

I have invented an apparatus for forcibly removing icicles from the eaves of a building loefore they-begin to fall as a result of a thaw. The apparatus is intended for installation over doorways or other locations where people are coming and going. It comprises a rotatable sweep member including a horizontal shaft journaled on the building adjacent the eaves, with striker means adapted to knock down icicles depending therefrom, and means for rotating the shaft at will. The striker mean-s is preferably an elongated vane extending laterally from the shaft, so that its outer edge passes in close proximity to the eave on rotation of the shaft.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawings illustrating the present preferred embodiment. In the drawings,

Figure `1 is a partial section, somewhat diagrammatic, through a building adjacent an eave thereof showing the invention yin end elevation;

Figure 2 isa side elevation; and

Figure 3 is a plan view.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the invention is intended for installation on a building such as that indicated generally at I0 which may be Iof any type. As an example, I have shown an industrial :building including spaced columns H with sheathing gi-rts l2 extending therebetween to which corrugated metal siding sheets I3 are secured, and a roof I4. The icicle remover of my invention, indicated generally at I5, comprises a sweep member including a shaft I6 extending alongside the building lbelow the eave and an elongated vane Il extending laterally therefrom and of such width that its outer edge pas-ses in close proximity to the edge of the eave on rotation of the shaft. The shaft is journaled 4 Claims. (Cl. 108-1) and ||6b and has a stub shaft 23 extending therethrough entering the ends of the hollow shaft Sections and bolted thereto as at 22. Auxiliary supporting `arms 24 provide bearings for the stub shaft 23 and are adjustably mounted on brackets 2 5 secured to the sheathing girts.

It will be :apparent that when the shaft IB is rot-ated as by pulling on the lone side of the chain loop 2|, the vane Il will sweep past the edge lof the roof and dislodge any icicles depending therefrom as indicated at 2B. The vane l1 is preferably curved as shown in Figure 1 to impart a slight springiness and may be slotted transversely as at 2l to clear the supporting brackets, a1- though it is only necessary to rotate the vane through a relatively small angle to eiect complete dislodgment of all depending icicles.

It will be understood that the apparatus, when installed above a doorway or entrance, may be operated by one standing inside the building adjacent the entrance with perfect safety since the sweep member may be turned in such direction as to cause the icicles when detached to fall away from the building Wall.

The invention has numerous advantages in addition to the fact that it eliminates the safety hazard presented by the fall of icicles from building eaves. 'Ihe apparatus is simple and inexpensive and may be easily operated to accomplish its intended object. When once installed, the apparatus is out of the way and takes up no useful space inside the building. It is, nevertheless, always ready for use without any special care or maintenance. Several units such as shown in the drawings may be coupled together end-to-end for wide openings and operated as a single device.

Although I have illustrated and described but a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that changes in the details of the construction disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I4 claim:

1. f kn'icicle breaker for an eave projecting beyond a wall of a lbuilding and having a laterally extending edge, comprising spaced brackets mounted 'lon 'fthe building, a shaft mounted on saidbrackets; said shaft being spaced from the edge of the eave below said edge and inwardly of said edge toward the wall, and a vane mounted on the slhaftxadha'ving an edge adapted to swing closelypastlthe edge of'the eave when the vane is rotated.

2. An icicle breaker for an eave projecting beyond the wall of a building andhaving a laterally extending edge, comprising spaced brackets mounted on the building, a shaft rotatably mounted on said brackets, saidshaft being spaced from the edgeeof. the eave. below said edge and inwardly of said edge toward the Wall, a vane rigidly mounted on the shaftand having an edge adapted `to swing closely past the .,edgerof .theeeavawhenwthe shaft -is rotated,V and ,meanstoi rotate fthe shaft.

v3. An icicle breaker for an. eave projecting be- ;yonda-aswalhoi afbuilding land having a horizonatallyextending edge, comprising spaced brackets mountedmmthe building, ashorizontal shaft ro- ',ytatablynmountedgon said brackets, said shaft vbeing ,spacedeofromfthe'edge ofthe eave lbelow saidi-flcge-P:anda'inwardly of-said.r4 edge toward the -lwal1,,-, ai vane rigidly,mounted on the shaft and 'ans-outer'edgeeadapted to swing closely thegaedgefof the-eave when the shaft is tion `of the vane adjacent its outer edge lies in a substantially horizontal plane as the Vane Vshaft being spaced from 'the edgenof the eave below said edge and inwardly of said edge toward the wall, a vane rigidly mounted on the shaft and having an outer edge adapted to swing closely .past 'the edge of the eave when the shaft is rotated,` said vane being hooked so that the portion of the vane adjacent its outer edge lies in a substantially horizontal plane as the Vane swings 'past theedgeof the eave, and means to rotate then-shaft comprising a sheave rigidly mounted on the shaft and a chain over the sheave and hanging. therebelow.

BENJAMIN F. LISTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordY in the Vfile of this: patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 510,515 McKenney Dec. 12, 1893 538,108 Freeze Apr. 23, 1895 2,111,251 Spilsbury 1Mar4l5, 1938 

